NYRA Late Pick 5

[NTamm1215]

It is an interesting conversation. I am 100% in favor of a late Pick 5. No question about it. I firmly believe at the 15% takeout it is the best bet in racing by a colossal margin.

From the track's perspective, it boils down to which wager they are afraid it will cannibalize. The Pick 6 on a non-carryover day (at NYRA) has a similar low takeout. You have to think the concern would be it hurting Pick 4 handle, which was robust on Saturday (3.8 mil). In fact, more was bet on the P4 ending with the Belmont than was on the P4 ending on the Derby (3.3 mil). Of course, there was another 1.7 mil bet into a P5 on Derby day.

The mistake, obviously, is thinking about what wager a certain player-friendly bet will hurt. Instead, the public should be given as many options as possible and be allowed to choose. We can all dream...